U.N. Security Council Was Set to Vote on Text Singling Out Jewish Communities As Obstacle to Peace

B’nai B’rith International has issued the following statement:

B’nai B’rith International welcomes the postponement of a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) vote on a resolution that would reiterate the erroneous position that Jewish settlements are a primary obstacle to Middle East peace.

The resolution was submitted by Egypt on Dec. 21, but today the country’s president reportedly called to defer the vote.

The UNSC text would have hindered peace by further encouraging the Palestinian Authority to refuse the direct negotiations and compromises that are the only path to a genuine, comprehensive and lasting peace. Moreover, over the course of years, Israel already has uprooted settlements in Palestinian-claimed territories and endorsed the two-state solution, only to continue receiving incessant terrorism and extremism in return.

We strongly urge for the motion’s complete withdrawal, and ask the United States and other UNSC permanent members to veto it if the resolution is not recalled.